Lorraine thought about what she would say to Jack as she made the long walk to Manhattan. She barely noticed the small group of younger newsies gathered at the end of the Brooklyn Bridge on Manhattan's side, until she passed them and caught an earful of their conversation.
"I told ya dat was her! Dat's Bam!"
"It really is her! She's da best thief in New Yawk!"
"Yeah, even Spot's afraid of her!"
Lorraine laughed to herself. Jack's rumor had circulated fiercely through the population of newsies. He had given her quite the reputation. She quickly found the lodging house and pushed open the door. The familiar smell of the house brought back the memory of when she left. She smiled as she remembered Race's face when she socked him right in the gut. The memory was replaced by another, as the image of Race's limp body in her arms flashed in her mind. Just as quickly as it came, it was gone, leaving Lorraine wondering if it was a memory of a real event. She grew worried. Was it just a dream or had it really happened? It seemed so real, she couldn't tell anymore.
"Lucky! Long time no see!" Kloppman greeted her warmly.
"Hey, Kloppy! Is Jack around?" Lorraine smiled.
"No, try Tibby's though. It's right almost lunchtime." She thanked the old man and started for Tibby's. She kicked herself for not asking Kloppman where Race was. The image of his body kept popping into her mind as she made her way to the establishment. She felt her stomach tie in knots as she approached the restaurant she hadn't seen in months. She walked in and quickly scanned the room for Jack and Race. She didn't see Race, but she located Jack at the back of the dining room. She slid into the booth next to him.
"Lucky! What brings ya all da way ta Manhattan?" Jack asked casually.
"I know what ya did for me, Jack. I just wanted ta say t'anks. And I'm sorry for bein' a pain while I was heah." Lorraine knew she was horrible at being humble and could feel her cheeks growing red.
"No problem. I owed ya. Let's not mention it again, though, okay?" Jack replied. Lorraine nodded.
"One more t'ing…" she paused. "How… how's Race doin'?" Lorraine stumbled over the words clumsily.
"Race?" Jack sounded surprised. "I t'ought you hated him?" Lorraine sighed. She reluctantly told Jack about her dream.
"It was so real, Jack. I just had to make sure it didn't really happen, ya know?" She finished. Jack nodded.
"Race is foine, as far as I know. I t'ought you'd like ta see him dead?"
"I guess I don't really hate him. I just t'ink he's a jerk. But he don't desoive ta be dead!" Lorraine explained. "Besides, I'd take fightin' with Race everyday ova havin' ta deal wid Spot and his sidekick, Knox! Dey hate me, Jack. I guess Spot's mad on account of everyone bein' afraid of me. He t'inks they respect me more dan him."
"Why would he t'ink dat?" Jack sounded confused.
"Dat rumor ya started!" Lorraine exclaimed.
"Don't worry 'bout it. Spot ain't gonna do anyt'ing to ya," Despite Jack's assurance, Lorraine still wasn't so sure. She hung around Manhattan for a few hours. The newsies acted completely different to her than they had when she lived there. Jack's rumor had reached them, and they were treating her with high respect. She headed back to Brooklyn upset that she hadn't seen Race with her own two eyes, but satisfied with Jack's promise that he was alright.